Collapsible gasholder



K. JAGscHlTz 2,171

COLLASIBLE GASHOLDER FiledFeb. 21, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1939.

m Q Q .1Q u m. -MTF @Usl A'rRNE Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT FFICE COLLAPSIBLE GASHOLDER Nuremberg, many Germany, acorporation of Ger- Application February 21, 1936, Serial No. 65,004

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to gasholders for the storage of largevolumes of gas in the open, and is an improvement over the constructiondescribed in my copending application Ser'. No. 10,533, filed March 11,1935.

The construction of large gasholders has presented a number of dilicultproblems in connection with safety, cost o-f construction andmaintenance, size of the dead space (residual gas volume in the emptycondition of the gasholder), etc. Some of these problems have heretoforenot been solved at all, while others have been solved only at the costof creating or aggravating other difliculties. Thus, the matter of thedead space has presented a serious problem from the standpoint ofsafety, since air may leak into such space, or is deliberately forcedthereinto to drive out the residual gas to enable workmen to enter thesame for repairs; in both of these events there is danger of formationof an explosive mixture which is liable to be ignited by the spark orame of Welding or other tools used in making repairs. Also, thedesirability of a constant gas pressure has long been recognized, buthas not generally been obtained with the known telescopic gasholders,wherein the weight of the gas-suspended shell increases. to greaterextents as additional sections are lifted (the area against which thevgas liftingly acts increasing Aonly slightly), so that as the gasholderbecomes filled to greater' extents the gas pressure increases; whileconversely, as the gasholder becomes depleted and the lower sectionor'sections comes to rest on thev bottom, the gas pressure falls. Afurther difficulty which has led to greatly increased constructionalcosts arises from the fact that in watersealed bell or telescopicgasholders, the foundation must be made strong enough to withstand thepressure not only of the gas and the weight of the shell, but of theenormous column of water, which may be 40 feet or more in height. In thecase of the waterless gasholder, no column of water is supported by thefoundation, but on the other hand the weight of the shell of thegasholder is concentrated upon the foundation area directly below suchshell, so that at least at such area the foundation must be made muchstronger and much more proof against settling than the central portionwhich resists only the pressure of the gas. Moreover, in both thewater-sealed and the waterless gasholders, sealing devices are requiredto prevent the escape of gas; these seals require constant attention andthus incur continuous operating expense. Also, as is well known, thewater-sealed (Cl. liii-478) gasholder requires elaborate and expensiveguiding structures for the moving shell sections, which not onlyincreases the cost of the apparatus, but affords opportunity for bindingof the guides on the shell sections against framework, resulting inpossible separation between the relatively movable parts. This causesnot only loss of gas, but the more serious danger of entry of air intothe gasholder and the formation of an explosive mixture therein. In thecase of the waterless or disk gasholder, a dead space exists above thedisk even in the uppermost position of the disk in order to accommodatethe guiding structure for the disk and is confined by the shell and roofstructure. This dead space not only keeps a considerable part of theshell structure idle so far as gas storage is concerned, but (especiallyas it increases in depth as the disc falls) requires special provisionsfor keeping it Well ventilated to prevent gas that may leak thereintofrom forming an explosive mixture.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a gasholder ofsimple construction in which the disadvantages of prior constructionsare eliminated. In particular, it is the object of the invention toprovide a collapsible gasholder which is so constructed that in theempty condition of the gasholder it lies flat upon the ground, like theupper half of a collapsed balloon, and encloses substantially no deadspace.

It is also the. object of the invention to provide a gasholder which, asit is filled to greater and greater extents, expands in such manner thatthe load on the body of gas remains substantially constant, so that thegas pressure likewise is constant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gasholder whichrequires no packing or seal, so that the danger of leakage of gas or theinfiltration of air through a packed space is eliminated.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a gasholderconstruction in which the pressure upon the foundation is small, therebeing no Water load; and is practically uniformly distributed, so thatonly a relatively inexpensive foundation is required.

These and other objects of the invention are attained by constructingthe shell or side walls of the gasholder in the form of a series ofconvolutions, undulations or corrugations of more or less elastic,resilient, or pliable material. These convolutions, undulations orcorrugations may take any of a great variety of shapes, being eithercontinuously curved or angular, or composed of a combination of planarand curved surfaces, the outline in the expanded condition tapering fromthe bottom toward the top roughly in the manner of the lateral surfaceof a truncated cone. The convolutions of the shell are so constructedthat they have a certain degree of expansibility and compressibility,and are preferably so designed that in the collapsed condition of thegasholder the annular convolutions lie contiguously with respect to eachother upon the floor or ground, the center being occupied by the top orroof of the gasholder which, together with the bottom, may be circular,polygonal, or be composed of so many sides that it is practicallycircular. The gasholder may be and preferably is reinforced or stifienedin any suitable manner and in the preferred embodiment of the invention,the reinforcement takes the form of an articulated skeleton frameworkwhich is attached to the various folds or convolutions of the shell andmoves with the shell during its expanding and collapsing movements, theparts of the framework being so constituted and arranged as not tointerfere with the movements of the shell.

The invention will be further described with the aid of the accompanyingdrawings, which show by way of example a preferred form. of theinvention, it being, however, understood that the invention is by nomeans limited to the specific embodiment illustrated. In said drawings,

Fig. l shows schematically and in vertical section a gasholderconstructed in accordance with the invention, the gasholder being in theextended condition.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but showing thegasholder in the collapsed condition in which the convoluted orundulated shell or wall and the top rest upon the ground or foundation.Y

Fig. 3 shows a partial section through the extended shell on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section of a portion of thecompletely collapsed gasholder; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a wear-proof connection between a part of theVreinforcing framework and the shell.

As shown in Figs. l and 2, the gasholder consists in general of a bottomIIl resting upon the ground or foundation II, a shell or side wall I2and a roof or top I3. The bottom or base of the gasholder isconsiderably larger than the roof so that the shell extends from thebottom toward the top at an inclination to the vertical, the wholestructure in the inflated condition shown in Fig. l resembling roughly atruncated cone or a truncated many-sided pyramid. The outline of theshell or side wall need not, however, follow a straight line from thebottom to the top, but may be slightly arched, as illustrated.

The shell is attached to the periphery of the top as shown at I4 and isanchored in or fixed to the bottom as shown at I5, as by way of a fixedrail I6 which is attached to or embedded in the bottom in gas-tightrelation. The bottom may be made of gas-proof concrete, which may becovered by metal plate, or may be constructed in any other suitable orknown fashion.

The shell lis formed of a series of convolutions, undulations orcorrugations 20 and is made of suitably elastic, resilient or pliablematerial so as to be extensible and collapsible, somewhat in the mannerof a bellows, with the important distinction, however, that in thecompletely deflated or empty condition of the gasholder the shell restsin the form of a series of contiguous convolutions or undulations uponthe bottom of the gasholder, while the top or roof of the gasholderrests upon the central portion of the bottom, all of the shellpreferably being located in the annular space between the top I3 and thecircular or polygonal line of attachment I5. In the empty condition ofthe gasholder, therefore, the shell consists of a series of annularconvolutions extending more or less horizontally from the rim of the topto the place at which the shell is anchored in or attached to thebottom. To this end, the angle of inclination of the shell in theextended condition, in which the waves run in more or less stepwisefashion, must be so determined that adequate space is afforded betweenthe top and the place of attachment to the bottom to receive thecompressed convolutions without bulge or buckle of the shell. Theconvolutions are so formed and their number and degree ofcompressibility are so determined that when the gasholder is in thecollapsed condition shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the compressed convolutionsfit into the annular space between the outer rim of the top I3 and theanchored lower edge of the shell.

The convolutions of the side walls are made of Vsuch depth and of suchlength that no excessive stresses are imposed upon the material. In thepreferred method of construction as described in detail hereinbelow, theparts are so designed and related that the side walls are practically inan unstressed condition in the average condition of the gasholder, thatis,'when it is about half full. The maximum strain in the material isthus set up upon movement of the walls for a distance corresponding toonly about half the total height of the gasholder. The shell, moreover,yields quite readily to expansion and compression, so that only slightpressure differentials are vrequired to effect extension or collapse ofthe gasholder.

Y The convolutions 20 may all be of the same configuration, asillustrated, or they may be of differ-ent sizes and shapes. Thus while Ihave shown each convolution to consist of the more or less straightportions 2I, 2Ia, an inner curved portion or bend 22 and an outer curvedportion or bend 23, the curved bends may be replaced by a multi-lateralshape or broken line outline. In accordance with a further developmentof Ythe invention, the gasholder is reinforced or stiffened by anarticulated skeleton framework consisting of relatively pivotingskeleton sections which may be joined together into skeleton ringssurrounding the gasholder at certain convolutions or at everyconvolution, but having freedom of movement relatively to each other soas to be capable of collapsing with the shell. This skeleton frameworkmay be all arranged upon the exterior of the gasholder or part of it maybe positioned within the gasholder upon the inside surfaces of theshell. v

In the form of the invention illustrated the reinforcing members includethe bars 24 and 25 secured to the exterior of the shell, and the plate26 and bar 21 attached to the interior of the shell. Each pair of bars24 and 25 is attached at their adjacent ends to the gasholder shell,such attachment being accomplished by welding, riveting or in any othersuitable manner. Each plate 26 preferably underlies the adjacent ends ofthe associated bars 24 and 25 and is likewise secured to the shell,`fromthe inside thereof by welding, riveting, etc., the bars 24 and 25 and 75the plate 26- thus forming a more or less continuous rigid reinforcingstructure which is secured to the portion 2| of the convolution atapproximately its middle section. The adjacent ends of the bars-aretapered and separated by a space 24a for a purpose to be explainedbelow. The bars 24 and 25 may, however, be joined into a single integralmember and the plate 26dispensed with.

To the outer end of each bar 24 is pivoted, as at 28, a hook-shapedmember 29 which curves about the outer bend 23 of a convolution, thefree end of the hook being flattened as shown at 35. This free endunderlies the preferably flattened end 3| of the bar 21, located uponthe inside of the shorter portion 2in. of each convolution, so thatpressure can thus be transmitted by the shell from the bar 21 to themember 29 and vice versa.

rIhe bar 21 is pivoted as indicated at 32 upon an angular plate 33 whosebase is secured in any suitable fashion to the shell. The bar is thusfree to move about ahorizontal axis to accommodate itself to changes inthe curvature in the shell portion 21a.

The other end 34 of the bar 21 may likewise be attened and is arrangedto overlie th-e preferably curved and attened end 35 of a link 36 whichis pivoted `at 31 to the bar 25 and is located beneath the bar 21 uponthe exterior of the shell.

To avoid wear upon the shell by the ends 30, and at the same time holdthe parts 29 and 36 in proper relation to the shell, suitable buiermeans may be provided, In the form of the in'- vention illustrated, suchmeans comprise a headed stud or rivet 38 whose head 39 is welded orclamped to the shell in gas-tight manner. The shank 46 of the stud isreceived within an enlarged aperture 43a in the end of the respectivepart 29 or 36 so that such end has a limited freedom of movementrelatively to the shell, the shank being long enough to preventdisengagement between the stud or rivet and the associated part.

The bars 24, 25 and 21 may be of any desired shape; thus they may be ofangular, channel, T, or flat form; or certain of them may be of oneshape and others of another.

The inclined zig-Zag series of bars and plates 25, 26, 24 and 21 andlink 36 is attached about the shell at intervals, say at 3 or 4 footdistances. To secure greater rigidity and insure against distortion ofthe shell, especially in larger gasholders, the adjacent vertical seriesof reinforcing members may be connected by horizontal or diagonal barsor struts; thus the adjacent hook members 29 may be connected togetherby tie rods or bars 4I which may be of angular or other suitable shape.`Similar connecting members may be attached to the adjacent bars 24and/or the bars 25 and 21.

It will be seen from the above that the parts 24, 25 and 26 constitutelocal regions of greater rigidity and are connected by the pivotedmembers 29 and 36 to the adjacent bars 21 so that an articulatedreinforcing latticework extends from the top to the bottom of thegasholder,

.which serves to stiften the gasholder and assist the latter inresisting wind pressures. These reinforcements, furthermore, are soattached and arranged that the convolutions of the shell bear againstthem and transmit the gas pressure to .them, the reinforcementsacting atlall times to prevent distortion of the shell out of its predeterminedshape.

'Ihe reinforcing structure may also serve as a support for part of theweighting means whereby the desired gas pressure is maintained in thegasholder. 'Ihese Weighting means may consist of blocks of concreteextending along the convolutions of the shell, the blocks being spacedat certain distances along the circumference to permit relative movementtherebetween. In the form of the invention illustrated, the blocks restupon the bars 24 and span the distance between adjacent bars and extendbeyond the bars somewhat less than half the distance to the next bar.All of the weights may be placed upon the outside of the shell, but someof the Weights are preferably suspended from the interior surface of theshell, as shown at 43. In such case the blocks of concrete are receivedwithin casings or hangers 44 which are welded, riveted, or otherwisesecured to the shell, preferably directly below the bars 25, so that theweight of such blocks is taken up by said bars. It will, of course, beunderstood that the concrete blocks may be replaced by slabs of iron orother suitable weighting means.

Where the blocks 43 are employed Within the gasholder, it is preferableto shape the bottom surfaces 45 thereof in such a manner that when thegasholder is in the collapsed condition shown in Figs. 2 and 4, suchblocks can rest flatly upon the floor of the gasholder, and thereby aidin preventing distortion of the collapsed shell.

All of the load can be placed upon the roof, but at least in certaincases it may be preferable to distribute some of it on the shell. Theweights resting on the reinforcing bars 24 may be held in place by bands(not shown) or in any other suitable manner. 'I'o avoid excessivebending movements, the weights are positioned symmetrically with respectto the center 26a of the more or less rigid structure 24--26--25,v andapproximately midway between such center and the pivots 28 and 36.

The roof may be built up of sheet material and is attached in gas-tightrelation with the shell. The load on the roof may take the form of alayer of concrete or of a large number of individual masses uniformlydistributed. Suitable stiffening structure, for example, a truss frame,may be provided for the roof but has not been illustrated as it forms nopart of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each convolution may be built up of twoannular sections of sheet material, the first beginning at 49 andLmderlapping or overlapping the second section at 56, the second sectionterminating at Where it overlaps the next shell section. The ends ofcertain of the shell sections may be bent away from the surface of theshell to form a ange 52 which serves to stifen the shell sections in thetransverse direction. The plate 26 underlies the lap joint 50 and asalready explained serves to produce a more or less rigid connectionbetween the adjacent ends of the bars 24 and 25. To stiffen the otherportions of the convolutions `they may be crimped as shown at 53 toincrease the resistance to transverse bending.

One of the important features of the gasholder above described is thatit can be erected entirely upon the oor or bottom of the gasholder, noscaffolding or falsework of any kind being necessary. The cost ofconstruction is thereby very considerably reduced. The successiveannularl sections forming ther series of convolutions are built upe andattached to each other, preferably from the outermost diameter inwardly,all while the parts rest upon the bottom of the gasholder. Thus the rstor outermost shell section 55 may be built up While the workmen remainupon the ground, and is attached to the rail I6 as indicated at I5, suchattachment being effected by welding, riveting, etc. After this firstsection has been built up into its annular form, or during the course ofits construction, the second section 56 is attached thereto by beingbuilt up thereon. During these operations the parts4 55 and 56 are notunder external stress. 'I'he bars 24, 25 and 4I are then attached andupon the bars 24 and 25 are supported or suspended the weighting means,42 and 43. The outer or left bend 23 is thus placed under compressionwhile the upper part ofthe section 56 extends into the air withouttension, or under very low tension. The next section 55 is then attachedto the section 56 and the section 56' is then built up and attached tothe section 55. After the bars 21 have been mounted within theconvolutions, the weighting means are mounted upon the upper portion ofthe section 55 and the lower portion of the section 56', so that theouter bend of the next convolution is placed under pressure while theinner bend 22 is more or less free of any stress. As the constructionproceeds the successive convolutions take the position shown in Figs. 2and 4 until finally the innermost convolution is attached to the oneimmediately preceding it and to the roof.

The degree of weighting or loading during the construction of thegasholder is preferably so determined that the stresses in the shellbecome zero when the gasholder is approximately half full; that is, inthis condition of the gasholder the convolutions are under no pressureor tension. In this way the maximum stress in the shell is reduced.

In order to prevent excessive expansion of the gasholder, restrainingmeans in the form of a chain or other exible or semi-flexible deviceconnecting the top with the bottom may be employed. In the form of theinvention illustrated the chain consists of an alternating series ofrigid bars: or rods 51 and flexible chain members 58. To prevent thechain from becoming twisted or frozen to the gasholder shell by snow andice, the rods 51 may be secured in any suitable manner to the outerbends of the successive con-v volutions or to only certain of theconvolutions, the rods being preferably secured to the reinforcingstructures, for example, to the hook member 29, as shown, or to thetransverse connecting bars 4l between the individual, verticallyextending reinforcing structures. The flexible chain attached to theunsecured end of a rod 51 may be connected to a succeeding outer bend23, preferably through the reinforcing member, each rod and itsconnected exible chain portion thus limiting the degree of extension ofthe convolution or convolutions which they subtend.

The chains may be arranged in pairs at various places and provided withrings to serve as a collapsible ladder for scaling the gasholder.

To prevent dangerous rise of pressure within the gasholder any suitablesafety device, such as a relief or blow-off valve 59, may be provided inthe roof of the gasholder.

In the normal operation of the gasholder the convolutions readily yieldto increases in the volume of gas and as easily collapse as the: volume2,171,5ewv

is decreased. Because of the flexibility of the convolutions, only veryslight dilerences in pressure are required to cause expansion of thegasholder to the fullest extent and collapse of the gasholder until itrests on the bottom. The reinforcing members follow the expansion andcollapsing movements of the convolutions and at the same time preservethe predetermined shape of the latter and assist the shell in resistingwind pressures, as the individual series of bars 24, 25, 21 and plates26 may be so constructed and related that the whole articulated andinclined Zigzag framework is relatively rigid against horizontal forces.The reinforcing mechanism is thus in the form of a spider frameworkwhich embraces the shell and while articulated so as to follow themovementsI of the shell, nevertheless resists distortion of the flatportions of the shell by internal and external pressure.

The stability against wind pressures is greatly aided also by the factthat the bottom of the gasholder is considerably larger than the top,the structure as a whole thus possessing the highly stable equilibriumof afrustum of a cone or pyramid resting upon its larger base.

In the preferred form of the invention each convolution is composed of abroader portion (ruiming from 23 to 22) and a narrower portion (runningfrom 22 to 23), and the convolutions overlie each other to a certainextent in the collapsed condition of the gasholder, but each occupiespart of the horizontal area between the roof and the rail I6, so thatthe gas pressure acts on all of them and lifts them all substantiallysimultaneously as gas is admitted into the collapsed gasholder. As shownmore clearly in Fig. 4 the outer bend of one convolution overlies theinner bend of the next outer convolution, its own inner bend beingdirected toward the floor of the gasholder successive convolutions thuspartly overlying each other. The convolutions may rest one directly ontop of the other, and in order better to accommodate the overlyingconvolution the adjacent ends of the bars 24 and 25 are tapered, asalready described, so that the convolution together with its stiffeningmechanism is received within the space between the bar ends. In theembodiment shown in Fig. 4, the angle of inclination of the shell as awhole is so chosen and the convolutions so dimensioned that, in thecollapsed condition of the gasholder, successive convolutions have theirbottom portions at substantially the same level and are individuallysupported directly upon the bottom of the gasholder, that is, without anintervening convolution. It will be understood that the weight 42 willbe notched at suitable places to accommodate the hooks 29 where thisshould be necessary. It will be noted that in the collapsed condition ofthe convolutions the hook members 29 are rotated downwardly about theirpivots, while the members 36 are moved outwardly upon their own pivots,so that the change in shape of the bends 23 and 22 as the shellcollapses is not resisted. While the rest of the convolutions performs alimitedV rotational movement as the gasholder expands and contracts, thecenter points 26a. as a rule move only vertically'.

The inner tapered ends of the rod 21 are preferably so shaped that, asshown in Fig. 4, they Izagovide a ilat seat for the overlying inclinedplate Because the shell lies flat on the base in the collapsedVcondition of the gasholder the dead space, indicated at 60, isextremely small. This space may be still further reduced by providingaseries of annular ribs or ridges 6l of concrete or the like which areshaped so as to fill substantially completely the space 60. If desired,and as* shown in my copending application Ser. No. 10,533 led March 11,1935, the bottom may be filled with water, oil, tar or other liquid to adepth sufficient to occupy substantially all of the spaces 60.

It will be seen that when gas is admitted to the completely collapsedgasholder, the roof will rise first, but after rising for only a veryshort distance the whole of the shell is lifted with it by the pressureof the gas under the shell. The roof and shell thus both float upon thesmall body of gas in the gasholder. The gas is thus substantiallyimmediately subjected to the complete dead weight of the gasholder andis subjected to no additional weight as the gasholder fills to greaterand greater extents. The gas pressure thus remains substantiallyconstant in all conditions of lling of the gasholder. To accomplish thisresult, the angle of inclination of the shell must be properly chosen,taking into consideration also the fact that the convolutions are all tolie on the bottom when the gasholder is collapsed or subtend differentportions of the bottom. This angle can be determined approximatelyl byequating the total load and weight of the shell with the total upwardpressure on the shell exerted by the gas.

'I'he base of the gasholder is preferably tapered, as illustrated, tofacilitate drainage of condensed moisture. The roof may becorrespondingly tapered, as shown in Fig. 2.

The gasholder shell may be made of iron, steel, aluminum, alloys, or anyother metallic or non-metallic material having the necessary degree ofelasticity or pliability.

The claims subjoined hereto are directed to my improved gasholder as anarticle of manufacture; the novel method of constructing a collapsiblegasholder described herein forms the subject matter of my divisionalapplication Ser. No. 132,981, filed March 25, 1937, now Patent No.2,105,081, dated January 11, 1938, and is claimed therein.

It will be understood that the invention is capable of numerousstructural embodiments and that various changes in the parts and in thedetails of construction may be resorted to without departing from theprinciples of the invention. Thus, the bottom plate l0, which is shownas being of metal, may be omitted, the bottom then consisting of agas-impervious layer of concrete, stone, etc. Also, where gas of verylow pressure is to be stored, no loading means being then used, thereinforcing framework may be omitted, as the shell will then not besubjected to distorting gas pressures.

claim:

1. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top of smallerdiameter than the bottom, an inclined shell connected in sealingrelation with the bottom and top, weighting means distributed upon saidtop, and weighting means distributed along the inclined shell.

2. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top of smallerdiameter than said bottom, an inclined convoluted shell connected insealing relation with the top and bottom, the angle of inclination ofsaid shell being so determined that in the collapsed condition of theygasholder the collapsed shell lies in an approximately horizontal planebetween the top and the line of attachment to the bottom, and weightingmeans distributed upon said shell and including blocks attached to theinner surface of the shell and shaped so as to lie flat upon the bottomin the collapsed condition of the shell.

3. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top and a convolutedshell connected in sealing relation with the top adapted to be expandedor compressed as the gasholder lls or empties, each convolutionconsisting of a larger upper portion, and a shorter lower portion,reinforcing structure attached to approximately the middle section ofthe upper portion, a reinforcing member attached to the lower portion,the outer end portion of the upper reinforcing structure including acurved pivoted hook member extending around the bend between the upperand lower portions of the convolution into proximity with one end of thereinforcing member so that stresses can be transmitted from one to theother, the upper end of said reinforcing mechanism including a pivotedmember extending toward the lower portion of the next adjoiningconvolution and connected to such lastmentioned lower portion.

4. A collapsible gasholder as set forth in claim 3, wherein thereinforcing member is pivotally mounted upon the lower portion of theconvolution, so as to be able to accommodate itself to changes in thecurvature of said portion.

5. A collapsible gasholder as set forth in claim 3, wherein thereinforcing member is mounted upon the inner surface of the lowerportion of the convolution, the free ends thereof overlying the ends ofthe reinforcing structures of its own and the adjacent convolution.

6. A collapsible gasholder as Set forth in claim 3, wherein the ends ofthe reinforcing structure and of the reinforcing member are connected tothe shell by way of a headed member having a shank passing through anenlarged opening in said ends whereby the wear is taken up by saidheaded member.

7. A collapsible gasholder as set forth in claim 3, including weightingmembers mounted upon said reinforcing structure approximatelysymmetrically with respect to the center thereof.

8. A collapsible gasholder as set forth in claim 3, including a weightmounted upon the reinforcing structure outwardly of its center and uponthe outside thereof, and a Weight mounted inwardly of the said centerand suspended in the inside of the gasholder from said reinforcingstructure, the inward surface of such reinforcing structure being thusunobstructed by said weights and being free for receiving in supportingrelation the adjacent convolution in the collapsed condition of thegasholder.

9. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a topI of smallerdiameter than the bottom, and an inclined convoluted shell connected insealing relation with the top and bottom and forming a stepped surfacetherebetween in its extended condition; said shell and top resting uponthe bottom in the collapsed condition of the gasholder with successiveconvolutions having their bottom portions at substantially the samelevel when collapsed and being individually supported directly on saidbottom, the convolutions being then in partial overlapping relation inposition to be substantially simultaneously lifted upon admission of gasto the gasholder.

10. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top of smallerdiameter than said bottom, and a collapsible shell connected in sealingrelation with the top and bottom and composed of a plurality of annularconvolutions capable of expansion and contraction and extending from thetop to the bottom and forming a stepped surface therebetween in itsextended condition, each wave of the shell being formed of a broaderportion and a narrower portion, and the connections between theseportions and between the waves formed of such portions formingcurvilinear external outlines, the dimensions of said wave portionsbeing such that the broader portions are capable of overlapping thenarrower portions in the completely collapsed condition of the shell,the narrower portions being capable of overlapping a part of the broaderwave portions underlying the same, the angle of inclination of the shellas a. Whole in the extended condition of the gasholder being such thatthe shell is capable in the completely collapsed condition of thegasholder of supporting itself, along with the cover, between the latterand the line of attachment of the shell to the bottom, upon such bottomat substantially the same elevation as the cover by way of successivebroader wave portions projecting beyond adjacent narrow portions.

11. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top of smallerdiameter than the bottom, a Shell which in vthe Vcompletely extendedcondition of the gasholder forms a stepped surface, said shell beingexpansible and collapsible with the corresponding movements of thegasholder, and an articulated skeleton reinforcing framework composed oftwo portions connected with the shell, one portion being arranged uponthe exterior of the shell and the other upon the inner side thereof.

12. A collapsible gasholder comprising a bottom, a top of smallerdiameter than said bottom, and a collapsible shell connected in sealingrelation with the top and bottom and composed of a plurality of annularconvolutions capable 'of expansion and. contraction and extending fromthe top to the bottom and forming a stepped surface therebetween, in itsextended condition, the angle of inclination of the shell as a whole, inthe extended condition of the gasholder, being such that the shell iscapable in the completely collapsed condition of thegasholder ofsupporting itself, between the cover and the line of attachment of theShell to the bottom, upon such bottom at substantially rthe sameelevation as the cover with successive convolutions individuallysupported directly upon the bottom.

KONRAD JAGSCHITZ.

